Greatest War Movie Ever!

Rating: 10/10 (27 August 2007)

This epic film by Darryl F. Zanuck is the greatest war movie ever made- GREATEST WAR ("The Big One", America's last legally declared war and the last one we won)- GREATEST DAY (tactical turning point of the conflict and the largest armada ever assembled)- GREATEST CAST (42 International Stars) This is about actual history and not really character-driven despite the all-star cast and personal story vignettes that occur throughout the filmit is very unlike other popular war movies such as Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Patton and the overrated Saving Private Ryan..Tora! Tora! Tora! is the only other movie I know of that is as focused on the actual history of the events..If you don't know the story, read your history..
Although slightly "Hollywooded", the film is amazingly historically accuratemany of the actual characters in the film were consultants on the production.it is also of note that from the cast; Eddie Albert, Henry Fonda, Red Buttons, Rod Steiger, Edmond O'Brien, Richard Todd, Tom Tryon and even Darryl F. Zanuck served in their countries' armed forces during this wargo to http://www.palletmastersworkshop.com/flipside.html for more on that.....
I have watched it a dozen times or more..don't watch it on TV, go rent (or better, buy) the widescreen version..it has some of the most spectacular B&W action cinematography ever shot..of special note are the scenes of the paratroopers overshooting their drop and landing in the middle of Ste-Mère-Église, the battle as the French Forces attempt to take Ouistreham and almost all of the beach assault scenes..many of the indoor scenes are exceptionally shot as well..
The film is riddled with dozens of emotionally moving and triumphant scenes..the acting (and direction) are surprisingly good..all the characters speak in their own languages with subtitlesI especially enjoyed John Wayne (as Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort), Robert Mitchum (as Brig. Gen. Norman Cota), Curt Jürgens (as Maj. Gen. Gunther Blumentritt), Hans Christian Blech (as Maj. Werner Pluskat) and Irina Demich (as Janine Boitard), the only "eye candy" in the movie; in their roles..there is also the occasional tension-breaking humorous scene or dialogue (comic relief) that really adds to the overall entertainmentwatch for when the nuns show up during the battle in Ouistreham, when the padre loses his communion set, when the French citizen pulls out his flag and starts celebrating as the shelling begins, and most of Red Buttons' scenes If you appreciate history, if you appreciate great films, if you like war movies, if you like great actors and great acting, if you like great cinematography: watch and enjoy..